3.7% growth in trade exchange with South Africa: ECS

CAIRO, May 20 (MENA) - The trade exchange between Egypt and South Africa has achieved a growth of 3.7 percent in 2018 recording 287.8 million dollars against 277.5 million dollars in 2017, the Egyptian Commercial Service (ECS) said on Monday.

Egypt's exports to South Africa have increased to 105.4 million dollars during 2018 compared with 98.7 million dollars in 2017, with an increase of 10 percent, according to a report submitted by the ECS office in South Africa's capital of Pretoria.

Despite some logistic problems, Egypt's exports to the African country met the targeted increase planned for Egyptian exports by the Ministry of Trade.

Asphalt, or bitumen, topped Egypt's exports to South Africa with a notable increase of 512 percent followed by non-woven fabric that stood at 128 percent.

While Polymer accounted for 67 percent of Egypt's exports to South Africa, Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) exports represented 52 percent of the exports.

Egypt's imports from South Africa rose by two percent in 2018 reaching 182.4 million dollars against 178.8 million dollars in 2017.

Imports from South Africa are topped by bituminous coal, armored vehicles, copper wires and frozen meat, the ECS said.